Food container attachable to cup

ABSTRACT

A food container ( 14 ) that can be mounted on a cup ( 12 ), includes a container bottom recess ( 30 ) that receives the top ( 22 ) of the cup. Walls of the recess form a groove ( 44 ) that extends around the container axis ( 26 ) and snaps onto a bead ( 24 ) at the top of the cup to hold the container securely to the cup. The groove ( 44 ) lies at the top of a leadin wall ( 42 ) that extends at an inward and upward incline, so the leadin wall is deflected by the cup bead until the bead snaps into the groove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A person who buys food in a cup, such as coffee or a soft drink, maywish to purchase a second food that comes in a separate container suchas donut holes or chicken pieces that can be eaten with the food in thecup. It can be awkward to carry both the cup and the container, and toeat the food in one or both of them. A container that facilitated thecarrying of the cup and container and the eating of food out of one orboth of them, would be of value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a low cost containerformed of a deformed sheet of plastic (with or without fibrous materialin the plastic), is provided that can be easily and securely mounted ona cup or removed from it, and that facilitates eating food from the cupand/or the container. The cup is of the type that has a bead thatprojects radially outward from the top of the cup. The container has abottom recess for receiving the top of the cup. The bottom recess wallsform a groove that extends around a vertical axis of the container andthat receives the cup bead. The container recess walls include a leadinwall that extends at an inward and upward incline, and that bendsoutward as the bead moves up the leadin wall until the bead snaps intothe groove.

The container has a horizontal bottom wall with a straw-passing upwardprojection. The upward projection has a straw opening that can pass astraw so the contents of the cup can be drunk through a straw while thecontainer is mounted on the cup. The projection can even project abovethe top wall of the container.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. The invention will be best understood from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a container system of theinvention with the cup and lid shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of container of FIG. 1 without the lid.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing thecontainer mounted on the top of the cup of FIG. 1, with the cup shown inphantom lines.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of area 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing a cup bead inthe groove.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the container of FIG. 1 and showingthe lid of FIG. 1 in phantom lines.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a dual container of another embodiment ofthe invention, with the container shown in an open configuration andshowing a portion of a cup in phantom lines.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the open dual container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the dual container of FIG. 6 in a closedconfiguration.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the closed container of FIG. 8, with aportion of a cup and of a straw shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a container of another embodiment of theinvention, wherein the container has a hinged lid, and wherein thestraw-passing projection extends to and above the lid.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the container of FIG. 10, shown in aclosed position and with a cup and straw shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of area 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an exploded isometric view of a container of anotherembodiment of the invention wherein the container is of squarerectangular configuration, and also showing a cup in phantom lines.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the container of FIG. 13 in a closedposition and mounted on a cup that is shown in phantom lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a food container system 10 of the present invention, whichincludes a cup 12 for holding food, especially liquid food such ascoffee or soda, a container 14 for holding a second food such as donutholes or chicken pieces, and a lid 16 that can close the container. Thecup 12 is a conventional cup of wax-coated cardboard of roundcross-sections, which has side walls 20, and a cup top 22 with a bead24. The bead 24 is commonly formed by rolling the cup top wall into atight spiral of almost circular cross-section that is fixed in itsspiral shape as by wax. The cup and container are centered on an axis 26and the bead projects radially outward (with respect to axis 26), or“outward” from the top of the cup side walls. A person may want topurchase both the cup 12 and container 14 (with the lid) and eat thecontents of the two of them together. For example, a person may want topurchase a cup of coffee in the cup 12 and donut holes in the container14, or soda in the cup and chicken pieces in the container, and eat themtogether. Applicant constructs the container 14 so it can be easilymounted on the cup to facilitate carrying them and eating out of them.

FIG. 3 shows that the container has a bottom recess 30 which receivesthe top 22 of the cup. The container has sidewalls 32 and has a lowerportion 34 with a bottom 36 that can rest stably on a horizontal surfacesuch as a shelf 40 on which the container has been placed. Walls of therecess 30 include a leadin wall 42 that leads to a groove 44, and ahorizontal cavity bottom wall 46 whose lower surface faces the groove.The container walls form a container cavity 52 that can hold a secondfood 54, while a first food 56 lies in the cup.

To install the container 14 on the cup a person places the cup top 22within the bottom recess 30 of the container, with the cup bead 24 lyingunder the leadin wall 42. A person then presses down firmly on thecontainer to cause the cup bead to deflect the leadin wall in a radiallyoutward direction O (away from the axis). Finally, the cup bead 24 snapsinto the groove 44, which retains the container on the cup until thecontainer is forcefully removed. There is an interference fit betweenthe cup bead 24 and the walls of the groove 44 after the cup bead liesfully in the groove, which seals the top of the first container 12. Theleadin wall preferably has interruptions 42 i (FIG. 2) to facilitate itsdeflection to pass the cup bead into the groove.

FIG. 4 shows that the groove 44 in the container has groove portions 44p around the axis that each opens in a direction 50 that is radiallyinward I (towards the axis) and downward D (by an angle of at least 10°to the horizontal). The facing direction 50 preferably extends at aninward and downward angle of 20° to 70° to the horizontal. The leadinwall 42 has a top portion with a convex surface 54 that faces inwardly,with the convex surface merging with the groove 44. The convex surface54 lies a distance G outward of the groove center line 62. It mightappear that it is only necessary that the convex surface 54 lies belowthe outer side of the groove for the cup bead to remain captivated inthe groove. However, applicant prefers to extend the groove walls toinclude an inner end 60 that extends downward to lie radially inside thebead. This resists radially inward movement of the cup bead that couldresult in the bead inadvertently moving out of the groove. The groovepreferably extends by an angle B of at least 180° about the groovecenterline 62. The leadin top convex surface 54 preferably extendsradially inward of the groove outer side 64 by a distance C of at least35% of the groove radius R.

The leadin wall 42 extends at an inward and upward incline A from thevertical of about 25° , although an incline E of about 15° can enableeasier deflection of the leadin wall although with less tolerancesallowed. Both the leadin wall 42 and the groove 44 extend around theentire axis of the container so there are leadin walls and grooveportions on opposite sides of the axis, although they (especially theleadin wall) may have interruptions.

FIG. 3 shows that the container cavity bottom wall 46 has an upwardprojection 70 with a straw opening 72 in its top 73. FIG. 2 shows thatthe straw opening can comprise cross slits that are expanded by a straw.The projection reduces the possibility that a liquid in the cup 12 willspill into the container and wet a solid food in the container. Theprojection 70 preferably extends upward by a distance of at least ⅜ inchabove the container bottom wall 46 for a container 12 whose bead has adiameter of about 3½ inches (2 to 5 inches). The height of theprojection is between 10% to 60% of the width of the bottom of thecontainer. The top of the projection 70 shown in FIG. 3 is below the topof the container 14.

FIGS. 6-9 show a food container system 100 that includes a doublecontainer 102 that is mountable on a cup 12. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,the double container includes a bottom container 104 and a top container106 that are connected by a hinge 108. The figures show lidding films110, 112 on the open ends 114, 116 of the containers. When the twocontainers are pivoted closed, the open ends are closed on each other.The containers can each contain food, as where the cup holds coffee, onecontainer holds cream and the other container holds sugar. One of thecontainers may hold an eating utensil such as a spoon with a shorthandle. When applicant refers to “food” he is including a utensil usefulin the eating of food. The containers have tabs 120, 122 that facilitateopening and that latch the containers closed.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the double container in a closed position. The bottomcontainer 104 has an upward projection 124 with a straw opening 125 atthe top wall 126, that is similar to that of FIG. 3, except that theprojection 124 extends to the top of the bottom container. The uppercontainer 106 has a depression 127 in its top that has a lower wall 128that has a straw opening 129 and that lies facewise against the top wall126 of the bottom container projection. As a result, a person canproject a straw though the two horizontal walls 126, 128 to drink fluidin the cup, without opening the double container.

FIGS. 10-12 show another food container system 130 that integratesdifferent parts. The container system comprises a container 132 that haswalls forming a cavity 134 and walls forming a bottom recess 136 similarto the recess of FIG. 3, for engaging a bead 24 at a cup top of a cup12. The container includes a lid 140 that is joined to the containerpart by a hinge 142 formed in a plastic sheet that forms the containerand lid. The container has a bottom wall 144 with an upward projection146 that projects above the lid in the closed lid configuration shown inFIG. 11 and that has a straw opening 148. As a result, food in thecavity 134 is more isolated from liquid in the cup, since liquid fromthe straw is less likely to drip on food in the cavity 134 even when awet straw is pulled out. Applicant prefers to form a deflection recess150 in the lid that extends around the straw opening, which makes theinner edge 152 of the straw opening 154 more flexible to facilitateopening and closing the lid.

FIGS. 13-14 show another food container system 170 which is similar tothat of FIGS. 1 and 10, except that the container 172 is of rectangularand especially square shape as viewed from above. A lid 174 is removableand reattachable to the container. An upward projection 176 in thebottom wall of the container projects to above the lid and has a strawopening 178. The lid has a straw opening 180 in the form of a circle,and has a circular deflection recess 182 that extends around its strawopening.

Thus, the invention provides a food container system that includes acontainer that easily and securely mounts on the top of a common liquidcup in which coffee or soda is sold, wherein the cup has an outwardprojecting bead at its top. The container has a recess in its bottomthat receives the top of the cup. The recess walls include walls forminga groove that receives the cup bead, and also includes a leadin wallthat extend at an upward and radially inward incline to the groove. Theleadin wall is deflected outward by a cup bead moving upward along theleadin wall, until the bead snaps into the groove. The bottom wall ofthe container cavity can have an upward projection with a straw openingfor the reception of a drinking straw. The projection can extend up tothe top wall of the container, and the container can have a circulardeflection recess around a circular hole that receives the top of theprojection. The system can include a double container that includes topand bottom containers that can open and close on each other. Thecontainer can be of circular shape or of rectangular and especiallysquare shape as seen from above.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variationsmay readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it isintended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications andequivalents.

1. A food container system that can hold first and second foods, where the first food lies in a cup that has a vertical axis (26) and side walls of round cross-sections and a cup top (22) with an outward-projecting bead (24), comprising: a container (14) that forms a cavity (52) and that has a container lower portion (34) that forms a container bottom (36) that supports said container on a horizontal shelf when laid thereon, said container having bottom recess walls that form a bottom recess (30) that receives said cup top, said bottom recess walls forming a groove (44) that receives said outward-projecting bead of said cup; said groove having a groove centerline (62) and the groove walls extend sufficiently along said groove centerline to securely hold to said bead; said bottom recess walls form a primarily horizontal cavity bottom wall (46) at the bottom of said cavity, and said bottom recess walls form a leadin wall (42) that extends at an upward and inward incline to said groove.
 2. The system described in claim 1 wherein: said bottom recess has walls that form groove portions (44 p) spaced about said axis, that each has a groove opening that faces (50) at an inward and downward incline to the horizontal, with the downward incline being at least 10°.
 3. The system described in claim 1, wherein: said leadin wall has at least one interruption (42 i).
 4. The system described in claim 1 wherein: said leadin wall (42) has an upper end with an inwardly-facing convex surface (54) leading to said groove, said convex inwardly-facing surface lying a distance (G) radially outward of said groove centerline (62).
 5. The system described in claim 1 wherein: said container bottom wall (46) has an upward projection (70) with a projection top wall (73) having a straw opening (72) for passing a straw, so a straw can be inserted through the container into the cup.
 6. The system described in claim 5 wherein: said container has a top wall with a top wall hole (154, 180) therein, and said projection projects higher than said top wall and through said top wall hole.
 7. The system described in claim 6 wherein: said top wall of said second container has a deflection recess (150, 182) that extends around said stop wall hole and allows said top wall hole to shift position, whereby to facilitate projecting the projection up through the top wall hole.
 8. The system described in claim 1 wherein: said container comprises a double container (102) that includes bottom and top containers (104, 106), said bottom container (104) forming said double container lower portion and said bottom recess walls that form a groove (44); said top container is pivotally joined along a hinge (108) to said bottom container and said bottom and top container are latchable together in a closed position of the double container.
 9. The system described in claim 8 wherein: said bottom container bottom wall (46) has an upward projection (124) having a straw opening (125) for passing a straw; said top container has top and bottom walls with said top wall forming a recess with a space (128) for passing a straw with the space extending down to the level of a top of said projection and with said bottom wall of said top container having a straw opening (129) that allows a straw to be projected through said two straw openings (125, 129) into said first container.
 10. A food container system that includes a container (14) that has a vertical axis and that can be mounted on a cup (12) that has a cup top (22) with an outwardly projecting cup bead (24), wherein: said container has walls forming a food-holding cavity (52) including a bottom wall (36) for resting on a horizontal surface (40) when the container is not mounted on the cup, and said container has bottom recess walls that form a recess (30) constructed to receive said cup top, said recess walls forming a groove (44) that extends about said axis for receiving said cup bead, and said recess walls including a cavity bottom wall (46) that lies within said circular groove and that forms at least part of the bottom of said food-holding cavity.
 11. The system described in claim 10 wherein: said bottom recess walls also forms a leadin wall (42) that extends at an inward and upward incline from said bottom wall (36) to said groove (44) for guiding the cup bead as it moves into said groove.
 12. The system described in claim 11 wherein: said leadin wall extends completely around said axis, but with at least one interruption (42 i).
 13. The system described in claim 11 wherein: said groove has a radius (R); said bottom recess walls form a convex inside surface (54) at the intersection of said leadin wall and said groove, with the horizontal distance (C) between an inner side (64) of said groove and an outer side of said convex surface being at least 35% of the radius (R) of said groove.
 14. The system described in claim 10, wherein: said groove has a centerline (62) and has a groove inner side (60) that extends at an inward and downward incline to lie radially inside the cup bead.
 15. A food container that includes a cup (12) with a cup top (22) and a container (14) that has a vertical axis (26) and that is mountable on said cup top, wherein: said cup top has an outward projecting cup bead (24), and said container (14) has a bottom wall (46) forming a groove (44) for receiving said bead to hold said container on said cup, with said bead and groove forming an interference fit between them when the bead is received in the groove, to prevent spillage; said container bottom wall has an upward projection (70) that lies over said cup top and that has an opening (72) through which liquid in said cup (12) can be withdrawn through said container (14).
 16. The system described in claim 15 wherein: said projection has a height of between 10% and 60% of the width of a bottom of said container. 